Search Resumes Today For Missing Kehena Beach Swimmer

A search resumed this morning for a swimmer reported missing Sunday off Kehena Beach in Puna.

The Hawaii Fire Department received a call at 2:41 p.m. that a man had been carried away from shore by high surf and strong current.

A surfer attempted to rescue the man but lost the victim under water approximately 100 yards offshore, the department said in a statement issued Sunday night.

Arriving fire department personnel were directed by witnesses to the last known location of the missing swimmer. A search was made by a county rescue helicopter, Chopper 1, which also dropped two county divers into the water.

A Coast Guard airplane also assisted in the search.

The efforts were called off at 5:40 p.m. because of poor water visibility and approaching darkness. They resumed today at first light.

The missing man was not identified . Witnesses said he was about 30 years of age.